Visions of Deception

Chapter Ten:

The storm didn't last very long, and when it was over a very soaked Liliann decided that she had better return to her quarters and change out of her wet robes. She walked back down toward the castle and under the small overhang past a set of glass doors. Just as she passed them the doors swung open and Severus Snape stepped outside. On his left arm he had a large green terrycloth towel and in each hand a steaming mug.

"You look a little wet Miss Nightshade," he said, "I thought you'd like a towel." He extended his arm and she slid the towel off and used it to dry her hair.

"I am a bit wet," she joked. "I can't imagine why though!" she laughed and Severus stifled his laughter. He extended one of the mugs. "What is it?" she asked.

"It's hot chocolate," he said. "I don't drink it, I prefer tea. But I have some, for emergencies." He said.

"Oh, thank you." she said and she took the mug. She sipped it and smiled. "Perfect. A little bit of milk and a lot a bit of chocolate." She said in a horrendous fake Italian accent.

Severus could not help but laugh at that. "That was absolutely terrible." He said with a smile. "Where did you learn to say things like that?"

"Television. I've lived as a muggle for years. You pick up silly things like that." She informed him. It began to rain again and he pulled her inside. When he realized what he had done he apologized.

"I'm sorry, I just didn't want you to get all wet again so soon after you had begun to dry off," he said.

"It's alright. I shouldn't play in the rain too much; I don't want to get sick." She said with a smile.

"Well," Severus began, standing there awkwardly with Liliann looking at him intently, "since you're here, why don't we go into the living room, you can dry in front of the fireplace and drink your hot chocolate."

She nodded. "Your proposal is acceptable," she said and she let him lead her into his living room. Upon entering she noticed two new additions to the living room; a black sofa and a green rug. The rug conveniently enough was placed in front of the fireplace. She went over to it and sat down, placing her mug on the floor in front of her. Severus sat in his favorite armchair, which was angled to look at the fireplace.

"I see you've added some things since my last visit," she said.

"I have. Your last visit made me realize that I should have a sofa for emergencies like yours," he said looking at her. "I must admit it felt rather awkward taking a woman I've only met once into my bedchamber."

She nodded. "It felt rather awkward waking up in your bedchamber," she confessed.

Liliann's robes began to stick to her so she decided to take them off. When she began to unbutton her robes Severus reacted with surprise.

"What are you doing?" he asked cautiously and turning his head instinctively away from her. She laughed.

"It's perfectly safe," she said. "I have a sundress on underneath, in case I have to take the robes off,"

He turned to look at her, and sat back down. "I'm sorry, I tend to overreact occasionally," he said, sipping his tea.

"It's perfectly alright," she said removing the robes to reveal a black sundress with dark green lilies embroidered on it. It tied in the front like a peasant gown and fit her frame perfectly. He realized that he was staring at her. He turned his head and sipped his tea again. The room became silent with nothing but the cracking of the fire for noise. Liliann removed her wand from the pocket of her robes and placed it beside them along with her key.

Liliann searched for something to say and the only subject that came to mind was the potion he had brewed for her. "Thank you again for the potion, I'm sure it will come in handy," she said breaking the silence.

"You're quite welcome," he said to her. They looked at each other and then both looked away. A few moments later Liliann decided that it was time for her to leave.

"Thank you for everything," she said gathering her things together.

"You're welcome," he said. "You are one of the few people in this place who will tolerate me and my silence. I enjoy your company."

She smiled and began to stand up. As she did, a wave of dizziness swept over her and she fell to her knees. Severus ran over to her in alarm.

"What's wrong?" he asked her as she leaned forward.

"I'm going into a visi..." she began and then she collapsed onto the cold stone floor of Severus' living quarters.

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Severus did not know what to do. She lay there on the floor of his living room and the color in her cheeks was draining away. He decided that he would get Professor Dumbledore. Placing her on the sofa he sprinted to his room and grabbed a small box of floo powder.

Throwing some into the fireplace, it turned a bright green. "Professor Dumbledore's office!" Severus exclaimed and he stepped into the fireplace.

He entered Dumbledore's office gracefully looked around frantically.

"Severus?" he heard Dumbledore say from behind him. "You look terrible, what ever is the matter?"

"Lily...Professor Nightshade, just went into another vision." He told him.

"Oh my where is she?" Dumbledore asked.

"My living quarters," Severus muttered.

"Well let's be off then," Dumbledore said. Severus took some more floo powder from the box he had in his hand. He didn't remember bringing it with him. "Severus' living quarters," Dumbledore said and he stepped into the fireplace followed closely by Severus.

Upon stepping out of the fireplace Dumbledore noticed the sofa and the new rug.

"You've finally decided to decorate a bit I see," Dumbledore commented as he went over to Liliann. "She looks very pale," he commented. "These visions take a lot out of her,"

"Why does she have them?" Severus asked.

"We're not sure," Dumbledore told him. "Her mother said she would have one or two a year when she was very small but then they just stopped. They didn't start again until she was attacked."

"Attacked? You mean when Peter Petigrew tried to kill her?" Severus said. Dumbledore looked at him with surprise.

"She told you?" he asked.

"No, I recognized her and figured it out for myself," Severus told him. Dumbledore smiled.

"Of course," Dumbledore said and he turned back to her when she made a small noise. She opened her eyes and looked at Dumbledore in alarm.

"The Halloween feast," she began. "Peter's is going to come to Hogwarts during the Halloween feast. Only, he won't look like Peter. He'll be one of the students." She muttered. "Can't let him come here," she said and her eyes rolled in the back of her head. Realizing that the headache she got after each vision was already at work Severus jumped up ran to his bedchamber. He returned with the headache potion. Removing the cork, he lifted her head.

"Take some of this," he said to her and she did as instructed. He lay her back down and she closed her eyes. Severus closed the bottle and sat it on the table next to the chair.

"What are we going to do?" Severus asked Dumbledore quietly.

"I do not know," Dumbledore said. "I shall have to alert the rest of the staff," he turned to leave.

"Can I leave her in your care Severus?" Dumbledore questioned. "Or should I have her taken to the infirmary?"

Severus shook his head. "No, you don't have to take her to the infirmary, I'll watch her until she awakens."

Dumbledore nodded and with a twinkle in his eyes said "Very well." with those words spoken he returned to his office via floo powder.

As soon as Professor Dumbledore had gone Severus went into his bedchamber and locked the doors to the outside. He placed a charm on them that would alert him if they were opened by anyone other than him. He took the small blanket from the end of his bed and went back into the living room. He placed the blanket over the now sleeping Liliann realizing that she could awaken at any moment screaming in fright. He sat back in his armchair watching her.

"It's going to be a long night Severus," he said to himself as he settled back in his chair waiting for Liliann to awaken once more.

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Chapter Eleven:

Sirius Black paced nervously in front of the dragon that guarded Liliann's quarters. He wondered where she had gone and why she had not yet returned. He looked up to see Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall talking in urgent whispers as they approached her.

"Sirius, you're just the person I was looking for." Dumbledore said to him. "Do you know where Professor Lupin is?"

"Lupin should be in his quarters by now," Sirius said. "Have either of you two seen Lily, it seems she's gone missing," Sirius told them. Dumbledore looked at him with a solemn expression.

"I'm afraid Professor Nightshade is in no condition for visitors right now," Dumbledore began. "And we have some very important business to tend to." He put a hand on Sirius' shoulder and guided him toward his office.

"Professor Dumbledore, what's all this about?" Sirius asked as soon as the door had been securely closed.

"Professor Nightshade," he began but was interrupted by Remus Lupin's entrance.

"I'm sorry I didn't come right away, there was a small problem between Draco Malfoy and Ron Weasley," he said. When he noticed the look on Dumbledore's face he realized that the small spat between the students was nothing compared to what he was about to be told.

"As I was saying," Dumbledore said motioning for Remus to sit down, "Professor Nightshade has had another vision and this one predicts great danger."

"What did she see?" Remus and Sirius asked in unison.

"She saw Peter Petigrew come to Hogwarts during the Halloween festival in the form of a student," Dumbledore revealed. Everyone in the room gasped.

"She's not safe here," Sirius said, "we need to take her someplace safe now,"

Dumbledore raised a hand motioning for silence. "She's perfectly safe here. This event will not happen for a full month, it will give us time to create a plan. Lily is a strong girl; she will not run from him. She knows there are people here who will let nothing happen to her. Why, right now she's in capable hands."

"Whose hands?" Sirius demanded.

"That is not important. What is important is that she is safe and someone is with her," McGonagall said looking at Sirius. He saw red and stood to leave. Dumbledore considered stopping him and then decided against it. Remus stood to follow him.

"If I know him," Remus began uneasily, "he'll head straight for Snape...and probably try to kill him," with that thought out in the open Remus left to calm Sirius down while Dumbledore and McGonagall pondered over what to do next.

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Chapter Twelve:

Peter Petigrew walked toward Liliann's bed wand raised and anger flaring in his eyes.

"Leaving so soon?" he taunted.

"Yes Peter, I'm going away," she said without fear.

"But you agreed to marry me," he said angrily. "You can't just leave me now, you're mine."

"You speak of me as if I am a piece of property," her voice shook but she looked calm and steady. "You are evil Peter. You are a death eater. I cannot stay with you if you are going to do this,"

"Well my love," he snarled. "It's either marry me and live with me, and become what I have become, or die now,"

"I suppose you'll just have to kill me then." She said standing straight, with her wand behind her back. "If this is the way you feel then you didn't love me," she challenged. His eyes flared with rage and he pushed her lamp off the bedside table making her jump. He raised his wand and began to utter a spell just as her cat Isabella jumped onto Peter's arm. This was her chance.

"Stupefy!" she yelled just as he was about to utter another curse. Her spell hit him just as he uttered the Crucatius Curse. The word slipped out half way and the spell hit Liliann in the back of the head.

Liliann screamed and sat straight up on Severus' sofa, falling off and landing on the floor in the process. Severus jumped out of his chair and ran to her side. She screamed again and looked frantically around the room. She was not in the house she had at one time shared with Peter. She was not crawling out the back door and staggering towards Hogwarts for help. She was not hurt. She was lying on the floor in Severus Snape's living room tangled in a blanket. Severus pushed the small table out of the way and was on the floor beside Liliann.

"Liliann," he began, "are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?" he asked with concern in his eyes. She began to cry and he was not sure what to do to comfort her.

"Why did he try to hurt me?" she sobbed. Severus realized she must have dreamed about Peter Petigrew and that terrible night that he attempted to take her life.

"I don't know," Severus said in almost a whisper. "But it's over now, you're safe here." He picked her up off the ground and placed her back onto the sofa. He sat down beside her, looking at her anxiously waiting for her to say something. She looked at him with tear filled eyes and then buried her head in his shoulder. Stunned, he enveloped her in a hug.

"It's alright," he said soothingly, running his hands through her hair and rocking her back and forth. "I...we won't let him hurt you," Severus told her. "I'm sure Dumbledore has already figured out a way to keep him out of here,"

She sniffed and looked up at him. "Really?" she sniffed again.

"Really really," Severus said to her with a small smile. She smiled back and leaned on his shoulder once more. He just sat there, not sure of what to do. Part of him wanted to hold her tightly and not let her go. Part of him wanted to lie there with her until she went back to sleep and just hold her, making sure she realized that he was telling her the truth. The other part wanted to push her away and that part of him was afraid of her. He felt confused, as did she.

What am I doing? She thought to herself. I should not be here. I should be in my room packing to get as far away as I can. Will he really keep me safe? Will they really keep Peter away? She found herself wondering. Wonder how he would react if I kissed him again. I feel very safe right now. Wonder if I'll get hurt if I let myself trust him. Wonder what Sirius will say when he finds out where I am. Maybe I should go, back to my room. Maybe I should find Remus. Tons of thoughts spun through her mind but the most prevailing thought was I don't want to move and I don't want him to either.

Because neither one of them could decide how to handle the situation they both just sat in silence listening to the fire crackle. Soon the sound of falling rain was also part of their background noise. Liliann shifted her position slightly so now her back was against his shoulder and his arm was draped carefully around her waist. Neither one moved or spoke, they both just sat there wondering what the other was thinking. After a few moments Liliann sat up, turned around, and looked at him.

"You scare me you know that right?" she said to him.

"And you frighten me," he said to her.

"I'm very confused," she said.

"As am I," he admitted. She looked at him in surprise.

"You? Are confused?" she said.

He nodded and pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. "Yes, you Miss Nightshade, have managed to confuse me greatly,"

"My father gave me a piece of advice once," she began, pausing to see what kind of response those words would bring. When he said nothing she continued. "He told me 'Aryana, always follow your heart. With your heart nothing can go wrong. Just remember my flower, everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay then guess what, it's not the end. Just follow your heart.' That was dad's advice,"

"Sounds like he knew from experience," Severus commented.

"I think I'm going to test him on that," she said changing her position on the sofa so that she was sitting on her knees and facing Severus. Before he could comment she leaned forward and wrapping her hand around the back of his neck she pulled him forward and kissed him.

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Chapter Thirteen:

Both Sirius and Remus had been sitting in Remus' living quarters when Liliann's screams echoed through the empty halls. Remus had managed to convince Sirius that Liliann was fine and that he had no proof she was with Severus. They had gone to Remus' quarters to continue an earlier conversation. They jumped to their feet and ran in the direction of the scream.

"If he hurt her I swear I'll..." Sirius began.

"He didn't hurt her damn it!" Remus said in frustration. He was so angry with Sirius right now he was not sure if he wanted to hit him or hug him. Ever since Liliann's arrival Remus had spent a lot of time being very frustrated and angry and even a bit confused. "Snape cares for her, he's not going to hurt her," Remus said through his gritted teeth.

"What's the matter with you Remus?" Sirius asked. "You've been very short with everyone lately, including me."

Remus looked at him with surprise. I miss you. Was what he wanted to say but the words caught in his throat. "Well the poor girl's been here less than a month and you're acting like you're going to propose or something. Are you in love with her?" he asked. Please say no. He silently pleaded.

Sirius looked at him not sure of how to react. "Let's go back to your quarters and finish this conversation," Sirius said. "The screams have stopped so it was probably a nightmare. I'm sure that he's taking care of her," he reluctantly admitted.

Remus nodded and they returned to his quarters. His living room was a spacious one. It contained within it a plush and worn in blue sofa with two matching armchairs and a fireplace. Above the fireplace and on the mantle were candles, each of which had been lit. Beside each armchair there was a table and on each table a beautiful antique oil lamp. There was a very long and rather comfortable grayish blue rug that stretched in front of the fireplace. Remus sat on the sofa and Sirius sat on the floor with his back against the edge of the sofa. Neither one of them said a word for a moment.

"I am not in love with her," Sirius finally said. "I feel protective of her, like a brother or a father, not a lover." He said looking up at Remus.

"I see," Remus said standing up and walking around the living room. He smiled and turning to Sirius said, "she does grow on you as a little sister doesn't she?"

Sirius nodded and he too stood. "Want to go for a walk?" he asked Remus.

"Sure I guess so," Remus said and together they headed outside. The moon was hidden by the remnants of the storm clouds but the breeze was perfect. They walked aimlessly around the grounds scanning the border for anything out of place. When they reached the Quidditch Field they decided to take a break.

"Let's go sit up there," Remus said pointing to bleachers. "I want to look at the stars," When they reached a dry spot in the stands Remus looked up again. "They really are beautiful aren't they?" he asked.

"What? The stars?" Sirius asked surprised by his friend's behavior. He had no idea that Remus enjoyed stargazing.

"Yes the stars. I never really have time to look anymore but they really are quite beautiful," Remus mused.

"You are in love with her aren't you?" Sirius asked quietly. Remus shook his head.

"No, I'm not in love with her," he said sadness in his voice. "But I am in love. I just don't know how to tell the person," he said sullenly, trying not to give anything away.

"Well, who is she? Maybe I can help," Sirius offered completely oblivious to what Remus was getting at.

"Does it have to be a she?" Remus questioned, turning his eyes from the sky to the one person he cared more for in the world.

"I suppose not," Sirius said, a smile forming on his face. They both got quiet once more and Remus turned back to the stars. Sirius sat beside him trying to find a way to tell him what was going through his mind. Neither one spoke or moved, and they barely breathed. Sirius joined Remus in looking at the stars.

"They are quite lovely," Sirius commented.

Remus said nothing. He laid back again the row of seats behind him folding his arms under his head and closed his eyes. Sirius looked at him a wave of emotions washing over him. Oh good god will you just do it already, he said to himself. The worst he could do is throw you off the bleachers and never speak to you again.

"Remus, I have something I need to talk to you about," Sirius said.

Remus opened one eye and looked at Sirius. "Yes?" he said after a moment.

"Oh fuck it!" Sirius exclaimed. Leaning over Remus he wrapped both his arms around his waist and kissed him forcefully. To his surprise and delight Remus kissed him back.

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Peter Petigrew stood in the shadows watching Remus Lupin and Sirius Black. He had been hiding in the bleachers on the other side of the field when they had arrived. Now he was sitting in the bleachers watching as they passionately kissed and his stomach began to turn.

"How can they be so disgraceful, they're worse than school children," he muttered aloud. "I wonder if they will lead me to Aryana, then I can finish her off," he said scornfully to the empty seats around him. "I'll get her," he said aloud. "Make no mistake, she'll not finish the year,"

He sat and watched as Remus and Sirius left the bleachers and headed back toward the castle hand in hand. They were blissfully clueless to his presence there. He wanted to find Aryana. Just as he was about to leave he saw Aryana walk out of the castle with her arms wrapped around Severus Snape. His eyes blazed with fury and hatred. He'd kill her for sure this time. She would not escape him. He sat back in the bleachers as it began to rain lightly and drifted off into a light sleep. "I'll get her next time," he laughed to himself.

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Chapter Fourteen:

Severus Snape and Liliann walked across the grass toward the garden their arms wrapped lightly around each other. Severus had pulled away from her kiss and suggested that they talk about what was going on before anyone made any decisions. When they reached the gardens Liliann spotted two benches that seemed to be dry.

"We can sit over there," she suggested. He agreed and led her to the benches. He sat her down on one and he sat on the bench across from her.

"I'm sorry I did that," she apologized. "I didn't mean to scare you. I..." she trailed off, looking down at the grass.

"There is no need for an apology," Severus began. "I just don't want anything to happen that either one of us will regret. I feel the need to discuss this before either of us makes any decisions," he said looking at her.

"Well, I guess that means you have questions?" she asked.

"Is this," he began, unsure of how to state his question, "am I really what you want?" he asked. She looked into his eyes and saw fear.

"I don't know," she said truthfully. "I know that every time I'm with you I feel safe," she continued. "Like I know nothing will happen to me. You did more for me in two days than any of the other people I've dated had done for me in a months time," she paused again and concluded by saying, "I'm scared to death of how I feel but I can't let my fear rule me forever."

He looked at her and instinctively asked, "How may other people have you dated?"

"Well, there was of course Peter, and in the muggle world there were two," she told him. "Nothing ever happened between any of them...I mean we dated, I cared for them, but I always end up being the sister figure or the murder victim," she said slowly.

"And you feel differently toward me than you did them?" he asked.

She nodded. "I do. With them...even with Peter before I found out what he was, I didn't feel safe. I didn't feel like they understood me no matter how much I explain things to them. With you...I feel like, like you understand everything about me even if I haven't said a word."

He looked at her with amazement. "And I feel the same about you," he said barely above a whisper. "You are the most mysterious woman I have ever met. You tolerate my silence, you tolerate my coldness," he said and then he paused. Walking over to her he sat beside her, looking into her eyes. "Your eyes express so much, they have hypnotized me." He stopped, and looked down. "I'm afraid that I'm not going to be who you think I am," he said.

She smiled at him. "I know who you are," she breathed. "I don't expect anything from you," she told him, lifting his chin to meet her gaze. "Don't do or say anything you don't want to do, pretending never makes anyone happy."

Hearing those words he realized that the relationship would work. He leaned forward and kissed her gently. "I believe," he said smiling at her, "that this can work,"

She smiled and hugged him tightly. "I think so too," she said. Just then a chilly breeze blew causing Liliann to shiver. Severus looked at her to realize that she was still in her green sundress.

He wrapped his arms around her and said, "let's get you back inside, before you catch a cold," she smiled playfully and shook her head like a child would.

"No," she said in the voice of a stubborn three year old. "I don't want to,"

He laughed at her and kissed her on the tip of her nose. She scrunched up her nose and looked adorable. "Let's go inside now, and if you're a good girl I'll read you a bed time story," he joked.

"Kay," she said with a giggle and she let him lead her back to the castle. Upon entering the room she glanced at her watch.

"Goodness god it's three am!" she exclaimed. "Sleep. Sleep is good." She said with a grin. "But I don't know if I can sleep," she said sadly. Severus walked over to her and lifted her chin.

"Of course you can sleep." He said. "You can stay here. I'll sleep on the sofa," She shook her head.

"No, it's your room, I have no right to throw you out of it. Besides what about the doors? It wouldn't be hard for someone to sneak in here," she said.

"Lily, it's quite alright." He said. "The doors are charmed, if anyone so much as touches the handle they'll go off and I'll come running in."

"Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?" she asked in a meek voice. Severus nodded at her.

"Of course I will," he told her. She climbed into his bed and he lay down beside her. He kissed her gently on the forehead. "Go to sleep," he said. She closed her eyes and sighed with contentment. She felt him shiver and her eyes flung open.

"Why don't you use the blankets?" She suggested yawning. "This is your room you know," He began to protest but she insisted. "I'm not going to be able to sleep if I know you're cold," Finally after a little coaxing he agreed. She felt him settle in beside her. He snuggled close to her and placed his arm around her waist.

"If it's alright with you," he said with a yawn, "I'm not going to leave the room at all,"

She rolled over and snuggled her head into the crook of his neck and wrapped her arms around him in a silent answer to his statement.

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Chapter Fifteen:

Remus and Sirius entered Remus' quarters and flopped down on the sofa. They were both rather relieved that each knew how the other felt.

"Why did you not say anything sooner?" Sirius asked Remus.

"How do you go about telling your best friend that you're in love with him?" Remus asked with a grin. "It's not an easy thing to do. Although I must admit that your approach was not one I considered."

Sirius nodded and leaned over for another kiss from his best friend and now lover. After the kiss ended Remus sat back and looked at Sirius.

"Why'd you wait so long to say...or should I say do anything?" he teased.

"Well," Sirius said mockingly, "it's not an easy thing to do when it's your best friend you're in love with. But in all seriousness, I thought you had a thing for Lily, so I figured that I was dreaming." Sirius said. Remus smiled.

"No, I was just being my naturally charming self," Remus replied rolling his eyes and smiling. He yawned.

"Tired?" Sirius inquired.

"Slightly," Remus answered.

"I think," Sirius began, "that you should go to bed then."

"I guess you're right." Remus said standing and yawning again.

"Care for some company?" Sirius suggested.

"Always," Remus said with a smile.

Sirius smiled and he let Remus lead him to the bedchamber for some much needed rest. It seemed that everything was finally going the way it should.

The rest of September seemed to pass by in a flash, as did the beginning of October. Everyone noticed Severus' new approach to teaching. He was much more cheerful and dare they say even happy. Remus was overly cheerful and hyper. The students were wondering what had happened over the course of a month to make the professors so happy. Only Liliann's disposition stayed the same but the students found out why soon enough.

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Chapter Sixteen:

"I saw Professor Snape kiss Professor Nightshade," Harry told Hermione one Friday afternoon. Ron nodded in agreement. "Ron and I were going to find Professor Nightshade's office, to ask her about the material she had gone over in class and we saw it. That's why he's been so happy."

Hermione was dumbstruck. "That's amazing. Snape has a girlfriend." She then looked at both Harry and Ron with an irritated glance, "why didn't you just ask me for help?"

Ron and Harry looked from Hermione to each other and back to her. "We thought you hated divinations." They said in unison.

"Not since she started teaching it," Hermione said pointing at Liliann. She had just entered the room and was standing at the front of the class. "She doesn't expect us to fake things. She helps us use the skills we have," Hermione said matter-of-factly.

"Good Morning," Liliann said to her class. She felt strange this morning but assumed that it was just her nerves. Halloween would be arriving in a little more than a week and she wanted to be ready for whatever Peter had in store for her. She hadn't had any visions since September and that frightened her.

"Good Morning," the class said in unison.

Neville looked at Liliann and whispered to Hermione, "Something's wrong, look at her, she looks white as a sheet," Hermione nodded in agreement. Liliann took a step forward and felt dizzy.

No, not in class. Not in front of the students. No. She thought to herself feeling the dizziness get stronger. She started to fall, and attempted to catch herself by leaning on the desk. Harry was on his feet in an instant, followed by Ron and Neville. They raced over to her and it took all three of them to catch her and lower her onto the ground. She fought the dizziness and opened her eyes.

"Neville," she gasped, "go fetch Professor Snape," she instructed. Neville hesitated but Harry nodded at him encouragingly and he ran out of the room. Liliann's eyes flew to Harry. "Send someone to find Professor Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall," she told him. "You are in charge until an adult gets here," Harry nodded.

"What's wrong with her?" Ron asked him.

"I'm not sure," he said, "but she's unconscious. I hope Snape gets here quickly."

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Chapter Seventeen:

Neville practically fell down the stairs trying to get to the dungeon. He burst into Severus' Potions class red faced and out of breath.

"Professor Snape," he wheezed.

"What is it Longbottom?" Severus snapped. He hadn't been getting much sleep lately and was worried about Liliann. Neville tried to tell him what was wrong but began to stutter in fear. "Spit it out already! Stop wasting my time," he said coldly turning around.

"Professor Night..." he started, trying to catch his breath. Severus whirled around and ran over to Neville.

"Calm down and tell me, what's wrong," he asked suddenly aware of the fact that he scared Neville and wanting him to talk quickly.

"She fell over, she told me to come get you," he said.

Severus left Neville standing in the middle of the dungeon speechless as he dashed up the stairs and toward the Astronomy Tower. When he got there he found Harry placing a backpack under Liliann's head and looking at her anxiously.

"Step aside," Severus said, moving into the room. Harry and Ron back up as instructed and Severus fell to the floor beside Liliann. He knew she'd awaken any time and he didn't want the students to know what was going on. He slipped his arms under her and in one swift and fluent motion he stood up, lifting her off the cold floor.

"Has anyone gone to find Professor Dumbledore or McGonagall?" Severus questioned.

"Hermione went to find Dumbledore," Ron piped up, "and Draco is supposed to find McGonagall,"

"Mr. Weasley," Severus said turning to look at Ron. "When Mr. Malfoy returns send him to my office and when Ms. Granger returns lead her and whomever she managed to find to Professor Nightshade's office." Ron nodded. "Also send Mr. Longbottom to her office as well."

"Yes sir," Ron said and he stood numbly at the front of the class.

Severus started out the door with a feeling of helplessness. Realizing that he could not carry her things as well as carry her he turned to the students once more.

"Mr. Potter," he said looking at Harry. "Gather Professor Nightshade's things and follow me." Harry was shocked but did as instructed.

"Professor Snape?" Ron began hesitantly, "Is she going to be alright?"

"Yes Professor Nightshade will be just fine," Severus assured them and he turned to take her to her room with Harry in tow.

**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**

Liliann had begun to stir on the way to her quarters but she had not yet opened her eyes. Severus gazed at her with concern and Harry said nothing. When they reached the dragon that guarded the entrance to her office, Severus said the password and the dragon rose. Both Harry and Severus stepped inside quickly. They walked down the hallway and into her office. Harry watched as Severus pulled down on the candlestick on the wall and it revealed another passageway. Hurrying down this passageway, he opened the door to her chamber. Harry felt odd walking into the private living quarters of a professor so he stood in the doorway as Severus took Liliann into her bedchamber and laid her on the bed.

"Mr. Potter, come here," Harry heard Severus say. He walked slowly and deliberately to the doorway of Liliann's bedchamber. "Go and find Professor Lupin and Sirius Black," he said, "Just tell them Liliann's sick, they will understand. Hurry back as quickly as you can." Harry nodded in understanding and ran out of the room to execute the orders given to him.

"Oh god Lily wake up," Severus said looking at her. "Before Potter comes back." Her skin was warm to touch and he decided that he would remove her robes so that she would cool down. He carefully began to unbutton her robes to reveal a black spaghetti strapped gown with a single butterfly on the bottom near the hem.

"She's in there," he heard Harry's voice say. No sooner had he stood and turned around than Remus Lupin and Sirius Black entered the room.

Sirius entered to find Severus removing her robes and he quickly made the wrong assumption.

"What the hell are you doing to her?" he said pushing Severus aside. He landed on the floor hard and glared at Sirius. "What did you do to her? What?"

Severus jumped to his feet and glared menacingly at Sirius. Remus entered the room and stood between the two of them.

"You need to calm down Sirius," he said looking Sirius in the eyes trying to divert his attention. "You know that he won't hurt her."

"She fell over in class," Harry said looking at Sirius in shock. It was common knowledge that Sirius and Severus did not get along but Harry had not realized the severity of their hatred for each other.

"Has she said anything yet?" Remus asked looking to Severus. Sirius took a deep breath and walked over to Liliann, noticing that all Severus had done was remove her robes. He placed a hand on her face to discover that she was very warm.

"I think she may be ill," Severus said. "She's very warm and paler than usual." He said.

Before anything else could be said Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall entered the room with Hermione in tow.

"Where's Malfoy?" Severus questioned.

"I don't know sir," Hermione said. "I had to pass transfigurations on the way here and I alerted Professor McGonagall at that time."

"Well done Miss Granger, twenty points will be awarded to Gryffindor," he said.

He looked up to see Ron, and Neville enter the room. They looked as if they felt that they should not be in a professor's bedchamber so the small entourage of students huddled in the doorway.

"Twenty points for each of them as well," Severus said. "They each handled the situation wonderfully. And an extra five points for Mr. Longbottom for running from the tower to my dungeon."

Neville and the rest of the students were shocked. "Thank you," they muttered. Hearing a noise behind them everyone turned to see Draco Malfoy enter the room.

"Where have you been Mr. Malfoy?" Severus demanded.

"I was...um...what I mean to say is..." he began.

"You were to go and find Professor McGonagall," Severus said angrily. "I am taking seventy-five points from Slytherin."

"You can not do that!" Draco shouted.

"I can do whatever I wish," Severus said calmly, "maybe next time you'll do as you are told,"

"But the orders were given by Potter," he protested.

"That is enough out of you!" Professor Dumbledore said, raising his voice.

Professor Dumbledore looked from Draco to McGonagall to Harry and the rest of the students in the room, Remus and Sirius and finally over to Severus and Liliann.

"You students are excused from class for the rest of the day to get over this shock," he said. "You may all go,"

Remus and Sirius moved to usher the students out the door. No sooner had they left than Liliann opened her eyes.

**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**